Databook Information
| Released: | 07 July 2004 |
| Retail: | ¥1,300 (tax included) |
| Publisher: | Shueisha Publishing Co., Ltd. |
| Size / Pages: | A5 (14.5 × 21 cm) / 223 pages |
| Catalog No.: | ISBN 4-08-873705-9 |
Databook Contents
Although Dragon Ball was the franchise’s first animated TV series, its “TV Anime Guide” was actually the second of two anime companion guides released in the early 2000s, following shortly after the Dragon Ball Z companion guide. The guide’s cover illustration was designed and sketched by Akira Toriyama, but the final artwork itself was completed by Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru. When the dust cover is removed, Toriyama’s original rough sketch is visible on the front of the hardcover and Nakatsuru’s final version is visible on the back. The book has been printed in a “Western”-style, meaning unlike most traditional Japanese books it is read from left-to-right. It also comes with an exclusive “Dragon Ball Card Game” card that can be removed from the back of the book. An extra neat feature to the guide is that the outside edge of almost every page features a CG rendering of Karin Tower, and when the reader slowly flips through the book it gives the impression that they are moving up the tower.
- Prologue
- 002
- The guide’s prologue details the legend of the seven mystical Dragon Balls, Goku and Bulma’s adventure to find them, the summoning of Shenlong when all seven are collected, and their creation at the hands of God.
- 1: The World’s Best! Son Goku
- 005
- Highlights the various aspects of Son Goku as a character, from his fighting techniques, personality, major fights, and his family and friends, to his ever-growing list of enemies.
- Son Goku’s Evolution
- 006
- Son Goku’s Friends
- 014
- Son Goku’s Enemies
- 030
- 2: The World’s Best Adventure Collection — Chapter 1
- 045
- This section highlights the various adventures of Dragon Ball, from Goku meeting Bulma up to the Red Ribbon Army’s defeat. Some pages include a “World’s Best Column” that examines a specific aspect covered, such as the Kamehameha technique, Goku’s Ōzaru transformation, Akira Toriyama’s Dr. Slump series crossover, and Doctor Gero’s creations for the Red Ribbon Army.
- Dragon Ball Gallery
- 074
- This gallery highlights rare promotional artwork and illustrations from the series, including celluloids of the original scenes used for the voice actor’s audition tapes.
- 3: The World’s Best Round-Table Discussion (read translation)
- 079
- The highlight of the book is a 12-page interview with Akira Toriyama, series organizer Takao Koyama, and voice actress Masako Nozawa as they discuss a variety of topics, such as the change in the atmosphere of the story following Kuririn’s death, Toriyama’s method for coming up with character names, and numerous discussion around the production side of the anime. It also features a lengthy discussion about the origins of Son Goku’s signature phrase, “Ossu! Ora Gokū!”, and its incorporation into the then-recently confirmed live action movie.
- Opening Film Explanation
- 092
- Despite the header, this actually showcases the openings, endings, and eyecatches used during the series broadcast, explaining what happens in them, as well as what an “eyecatch” is.
- 4: The World’s Best Voice Actors — Chapter 1
- 097
- This section contains interviews with the series’ four most prominent voice actors, where they discuss their roles in the series, their thoughts on the evolution of the story, and their association with Akira Toriyama.
- Son Goku / Gohan / Goten – Masako Nozawa (read translation)
- 098
- Piccolo – Toshio Furukawa (read translation)
- 102
- Vegeta – Ryō Horikawa (read translation)
- 106
- Kuririn – Mayumi Tanaka (read translation)
- 110
- 5: The World’s Best Adventure Collection — Chapter 2
- 113
- This section highlights the various adventures of Dragon Ball, from Goku meeting Uranai Baba up to the defeat of Ma Junior at the 23rd Tenka’ichi Budōkai and Goku’s wedding. Some pages include a “World’s Best Column” that examines a specific aspect covered, such as the appearance of Goku’s Grandpa Gohan, Goku drinking the Super God Water, and the split that created God and Piccolo Daimaō.
- Goods Selection
- 144
- This one page sub-section highlights various new goods available in Shueisha’s online “Mekke!” shop, most pertaining to the Kanzenban release.
- 6: The World’s Best Voice Actors — Chapter 2
- 145
- This section is a continuation of interviews with notable voice actors from the series, where they discuss their roles in the series, their thoughts on the evolution of the story, and their association with Akira Toriyama.
- Yamcha – Tōru Furuya (read translation)
- 146
- Tenshinhan – Hirotaka Suzuoki (read translation)
- 150
- Trunks – Takeshi Kusao (read translation)
- 154
- Bulma – Hiromi Tsuru (read translation)
- 158
- Piccolo Daimaō / God – Takeshi Aono (read translation)
- 162
- Videl – Yūko Minaguchi (read translation)
- 164
- Chi-Chi – Mayumi Shō (read translation)
- 166
- Kame-Sen’nin – Hiroshi Masuoka (read translation)
- 168
- Freeza – Ryūsei Nakao (read translation)
- 170
- Cell – Norio Wakamoto (read translation)
- 172
- Majin Boo – Kōzō Shioya (read translation)
- 174
- Narration / Kaiō – Jōji Yanami (read translation)
- 176
- 7: The World’s Best Story Collection
- 177
- The Complete Story
- 178
- A listing of all 153 episodes, along with release dates of the theatrical films. Days the show did not air are included with an explanation.
- Original Characters
- 188
- A collection of line art spotlighting TV-original characters, along with short biographies.
- Dragon Ball Character Name List
- 192
- A (Japanese) alphabetical listing of all characters who appear, along with a brief description and the name of their voice actor.
- Epilogue
- 198
- Credits for the main cast and staff involved in the production of the series.
- Special Reprinted Comic
- This is a reprint of a comic that was originally published in V-Jump on 27 November 1991 and was drawn by manga artist Takeshi Okano. This short comic portrays the process of adapting Dragon Ball from a manga into an anime, focusing mostly on the pressures associated with keeping Dragon Ball Z popular.
- “Miracle Full-Throttle! Z Power Men!” Character Introductions
- 200
- This page lists the comic’s seven main characters, including Akira Toriyama (original author), Kōzō Morishita (Toei Animation producer), Kenji Shimizu (Fuji TV producer), Minoru Maeda (chief animator), Takao Koyama (series organizer), Kazuhiko Torishima (Toriyama’s first editor), and Yū Kondō (Toriyama’s second editor).
- “Miracle Full-Throttle! Z Power Men!”
- 222
- Since the guide book is printed from left-to-right, but the original comic was printed from right-to-left in V-Jump, the beginning of the comic is actually at the end of the book and is read in reverse order (pages 222 to 201) from everything else.
- Special Reprinted Comic Explanation
- 223
Databook Staff Credits
It should be noted that although Akira Toriyama is listed as the author of this databook, he actually had very little involvement with the production of its content, if any at all. The contents of this databook were almost entirely compiled and organized by Kisōsha and Shueisha.
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企画・構成
Planning & Organization
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戸澤好彦 (樹想社)
Yoshihiko Tosawa (Kisōsha)
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執筆
Writing
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竹田義一 (樹想社)
Yoshikazu Takeda (Kisōsha)
山下貴弘 (樹想社)
Takahiro Yamashita (Kisōsha)
羽成 淳 (樹想社)
Atsushi Hanari (Kisōsha)
堤 充代 (樹想社)
Michiyo Tsutsumi (Kisōsha)
栩野葉子 (樹想社)
Yōko Tochino (Kisōsha)
松本光博 (樹想社)
Mitsuhiro Matsumoto (Kisōsha)
鈴木美穂 (樹想社)
Miho Suzuki (Kisōsha)
坂田 茂 (GIFT)
Shigeru Sakata (GIFT)
久保卓哉
Takuya Kubo
小嶋一司
Kazushi Kojima
森田 猛 (ドリルプロジェクト)
Takeshi Morita (Drill Project)
天野晴哉 (ドリルプロジェクト)
Haruya Amano (Drill Project)
古川 耕
Kō Furukawa
古沢晃一
Kōichi Furusawa
-
アートディレクター
Art Director
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田熊樹美 (フライハイト)
Jumi Takuma (Freiheit)
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デザイン
Design
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斉藤世綺 (アース・ブレス)
Seiki Saitō (Earth Breath)
大平由美子 (Ohira Design)
Yumiko Ōhira (Ohira Design)
広田美和 (Ohira Design)
Miwa Hirota (Ohira Design)
工藤たけし
Takeshi Kudō
シンシマシゲユキ
Shigeyuki Shinshima
新藤恵璃子
Eriko Shindō
矢後雅代
Masayo Yago
石野竜生 (フライハイト)
Tatsuo Ishino (Freiheit)
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カバーイラスト構成・下絵
Cover Illustration Composition & Sketch
-
鳥山 明
Akira Toriyama
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カバーイラスト原画・仕上げ
Cover Illustration Key Art & Finishing
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中鶴勝祥 (東映アニメーション)
Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru (Toei Animation)
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カリン塔CG
Karin Tower CG
-
早坂桂一
Kei’ichi Hayasaka
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協力
Collaboration
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東映アニメーション
Toei Animation
バンダイ
Bandai
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編集
Editing
-
木下暢起 (集英社)
Nobuoki Kinoshita (Shueisha)
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原作
Original Author
-
鳥山 明
Akira Toriyama
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編集人
Editor
-
鈴木晴彦
Haruhiko Suzuki
-
発行人
Publisher
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山路則隆
Noritaka Yamaji
-
発行所
Publishing House
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株式会社 集英社
Shueisha Co., Ltd.
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印刷所
Printing House
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大日本印刷株式会社
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.